Sesame seed exports hitN210b

Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Mr David Adulugba, who made this known in Abuja, listed sesame seed among the export products that earn Nigeria huge income.

He said though the country’s main export revenue earner was oil, there were strong indications that the swing would change soon.

He said sesame seed may become the major earner of foreign exchange for the country.

“The sesame seed, an increasingly popular oil seed, is believed to be oldest of all cultivated seed crops, and is a food of high value throughout Asia since ancient times.

“In Nigeria, however, it ranks second to cocoa in terms of export volume in Nigeria, is fast becoming prominent among non-oil exports,” he said.

He said there are indications that it if well-cultured, it becomes the main foreign exchange earner for the country, especially given that it is suited to Nigerian soil.

His words: “This is so because sesame is produced across many states in Nigeria .

“Although Nasarawa is the leading producer, it is, however, well grown in such other states as Benue,Taraba, Kebbi, Kano, Bauchi, Kogi, Plateau, Adamawa, Kwara, Cross River, Ebonyi, Niger, Gombe, Katsina, Yobe and Borno

“With the efforts of the NEPC thus far, it is believed that just a little more sensitisation and probably increased empowerment of the farmers and the evolution of the right policies that the product would take its pride of place in foreign exchange earning for the country.

Aside Nigeria, other major producers of the commodity in Africa include Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Niger, Chad but Nigeria, given other considerations, has been charged with the successful establishment of the African Sesame Seed Producers Alliance (ASSPA).